St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-08-04
FRIGHTENED NEGROES.
They Are ParaIyzed by an Earth
quake Shock.

CHICAGO, Aug. "a special from
Evansville, Ind, referring to the sink
ing of land in Trigg county, Kentucky,
since the earthquake of Monday night,
says: From gentleman who has Just
arrived from Hopkinsville. the following
particulars were obtained: He says
that the country about the scene is low
and swampy and aim Ost inaccessible in
places, save by old beaten paths. Much
of it is wild and contains large, dense
woods. Golden Pond is mere hamlet,
containing two settlements of negroes
who exc out a living by working on sew
eral large farms owned by nOn-residentS.
Monday night about 6 O'Clock several of
them felt the earth tremble, but
thought nothing serious had occurred
beyond slight tremOr, and, after gOS-
slipping over it, went to bed. About u
o'clock everybody was awakened by
sharp shock, and had barely jumped to
their feet when the earth, with a shak-
ing, dizzy, motion, suddenly sank dis
tance of five feet, carrying houses and
terrified darkieS with it. The scenes
that enSued battle description. The ne
grOes fell on their knees, and in fren-
Zied tones prayed the Lord to save
them. Others began shouting and
praising the Almighty, and ever and
anon casting an upward glance to see If
chariOtS of fire were not descending.
Added to this pandemOnium was the in
tense darkness which prevailed, the
moon being completely ObScured by
heavy black clouds, which hung very
low and like pail over the doomed
from the depths below, which gradual
ly became louder, and numerous
springs, hidden for years, suddenly
found an opening and began to bubble
upward in constantly increasing
streams. The terrified inhabitants, not
pausing for household goods OF chattels,
gathered their offspring hurriedly and
rushed away from the doomed spot, and
some of them are still putting as much
diStaEce between them and the sinking
land as possible. The more courageous
only fled until they reached safe ground
and there waited until daylight, when
they went back to the scene of the
nights terror and gaZed sadly upon the
ruin spread before them. Over $50
acres of fine farm land, including one
magnificent plantation owned by q. III.
Hayden, lay from five to six feet below
the level of the surrounding country
and contained about three feet of water
from the springs started by the
earthquake. A large area of tobacco
and corn will be total loss. Nearly all
the cabins have been torn loose and are
floating about in various positions,
while household goods are mixed up in
ineXtricable confusion. Fortunately no
lives have been lost, but the loss to
property is incalculable. The catastrO-
phe was undoubtedly caused by the
earthquake which was noticeable in
Tennessee, Missouri, Kentucky and In-
diana at 12:37 a. m. The rumbling
sounds and vibrations were similar to
those at siesmic disturbance. Golden
Pond is about 100 miles distant from the
spot where a similar catastrophe oc-
Cured about ten years ago, when a
large lake suddenly disappeared, leav-
ing nothing but the bed, in the center
of which hole of unfathomable depth
and several hundred yards in diameter
was found.